Replaceable heel for shoes



June l5, 1965 n A. CORTINA 3,188,755

REPLACEABLE HEEL FOR SHOES Filed Aug. 21, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 46 54 60 Vllllllllllllllllll Vlllllll/HI///l/lllll/lllM f/l/l/l/l//llll/ll/l//l/l/ INVNTOR E ANTHONY CORTINA BY j (f5-@Mm June 15, 1965 A. CORTINA 3,188,755

REPLACEABLE HEEL FOR SHOES Filed Aug. 21 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ANTHONY CORTINA June 15, 1965 A. CORTINA REPLACEABLE HEEL FOR SHOES 3 Sheets-Sheetl 3 Filed Aug. 21, 1963 INVENTOR Ez-i 1E ANTHONY co/aT/NA BY M u fa/TNEY United States Patent O 3,188,755 REPLACEABLE HEEL FR SHES Anthony Cortina, 56 Huntington St., New London, Qonn.

Filed Aug. 21, 1963, Ser. No. 303,962 7 Claims. (Cl. 36-42) rThis invention relates to :readily removable -shoe heel construction and particularly one which, besides being easily secured and removed, is firmly fastened both about an edge and to be resistant to rotary movement.

The several constructions, according to this invention, show alternate fastening means for quick removability while giving firm marginal securement of the heel by a flange, and further reenforcement is usually available from a core extending from an edge toward and preferably through the center. Such core braces and offsets the tendency of the heel to be dislodged in a torque or twist of the foot of the wearer.

The invention will be further described in relation to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows the parts of a shoe heel illustrating a central reenforcing core, each of the parts positioned as they would be assembled and fastened by a single screw fastener;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section through the assembled heel of FIG. 1;'

FIG. 3 illustrates a detail of the heel of FIG. 1 showing a flange and core extending inward from one side thereof;

FIG. 4 shows several parts of a heel having both a forward dependent flange at a center plate providing a central stilfening as well as a cooperative locking means, the part-s being illustrated in the position in which they are assembled;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section through the assembled heel of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 illustrates a similar heel with a core extending from one side with a spring fastener;

FIG. 7 illust-rates a securing plate useful with the spring fastener construction of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 illustrates the assembled heel of FIGS. 6 and 7 in longitudinal section;

FIG, 9 is a medied form of FIG. 4 using a screw-type fastener, the parts arranged in the order in which they would be assembled;

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal section of the assembly of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a forward inner end View of the assembled heel of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 illustrates a form in which the central core is laterally locked as well as reenforced by a slidable bar, the parts being positioned as they will be assembled;

FIG. 13 is a longitudinal section through the assembled heel of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is an inner end view of the assembled heel of FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 illustrates a heel broken into halves with interfitting zig-zagging sections with elements arranged in the manner of assembly;

f FIG. 16 shows the assembled zig-zagged halves;

FIG. 17 illustrates a modified form of FIG. 1 using a multiple bar, screw fastener and support for a heel; and

FIG. 18 is a transverse section assembled through the heel of FIG. 17.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 3 and 17, a heel lll, which may be of leather or rubber, has a flange 12 cut and extending entirely around its upper edge to provide a retaining groove 14 interrupted at one point by a core element 16 (FIG. 3) extending beneath the rear of the heel at 18. A corresponding heel retaining plate element 2) is securely fastened to extend below the sole 22 of the shoe ICC in the rear area at which the heel would be fastened. The plate 2i) is separated from the sole by an inner spacing element 24 which is smaller than the plate 20, spaced inwardly thereof, corresponding approximately in width to the distance X of FIG. 3, so that the inner end of the flange 12 will bear against the spacer element 24. The spacer 24 supports the plate 2li away from the sole 22 to form a cooperating flange portion of the plate 2t) upon which the heel 1t? may be slided and be'secured to the sole by the flanges 12, gripping the edge about the plate 2t) which will be within groove 14. The plate Ztl has a radial slot 26 cut therein from the rear which receives the core element 16. The core 16 lying within the slot 26 braces the heel against rotary motion. The spacer 24 has a slot 27 cut in the center in which a nut 28 is received and is retained therein by the overlying plate 20. The plate 2@ is bored at 3% to allow communication of the nut 2S with the end of a screw fastener 32. The heel 1l) is bored correspondingly at 34 to receive the shank 32 of the screw fastener 38 and is further countersunk at 36 to receive the head 3S of the screw fastener flush with the bottom surface of the heel.

The heel 1@ is assembled upon the plate 29 by sliding the flanges 12 upon the outer flanged edges of the plate from the rear inward toward the forward end of the shoe, receiving the edge of the plate 20 in the :slot 14 provided beneath the flange 12 and simultaneously the core element 16 slidingly lits into the slot 26 of the plate. In fully inserted position of the heel upon the plate, as shown in the assembly of FIG. 2, the screw fastener 312 is inserted and fastened through the heel lil into the nut 28, thus easily securing the entire heel and plate together as a firm and rugged but readily separated assembly. For removal it is necessary only to reverse the process, re-

' moving the screw fastener 32 and sliding the heel 10 olf of the plate Ztl toward the rear.

In the modification shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a longitudinal type fastener for the heel is provided. The twisting movement or torque upon the heel 4h is largely taken up and absorbed in a centrally mounted fastener plate 42. If desired, a similar core element 16 as in FIG. 3 may be built into the heel 40 and a corresponding slot 26 shown in dotted line FIG. 4 may be cut into the modied plate 44. Since much of the rotary torque is accommodated by the wedge plate 42, the core element 16 and slot 26 may be omitted from this modification as desired. Similar to the lirst modification described above, the plate 44 is fastened to the heel area of an extending sole element 22 and is separated therefrom by a separate spacing element 24 similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The plate 44 has a central slot 46 cut athwart the heel axis to receive in sliding fit the inner or upper end of the plate d2. The heel 40 has a corresponding slot 48 cut centrally therein and positioned to be aligned with the slot 45, whereby the wedge plate 42 upon assembly, as shown in FIG. 4, may be passed first through the slot 48 and sunk sufficiently beneath the surface to engage and lie within the slot 46 with its inner end. The plate 44 also has an inner downturned end fiange Sil preferably Iformed integral therewith or otherwise suitably secured thereto. The flange 50 has a horizontal slot S2 cut therein and the plate 42 has a horizontal slot 54 cut therein, both slots 52 and 54 being positioned to be at substantially the same horizontal level when the plate 42 is assembled within slots 46 and 4S. The forward end of the heel has a slot 6@ cut from the surface 58 horizontally to the rear at a height to intercept and coincide with both the slots 52 at the forward edge and the slot 54 in the plate 42 at the rear. The upper surface of the heel will lie flush against the plate 44, so that the heel 4i? will be secured by the annular flange 12 gripping the outer edge of the plate 44 entirely around it with the edge lying within the grooves 14 provided by the flange 12, as described aboveV for FIGS. 1 through 3, except where a further core element 16 is used as shown in FIG. 3. In the latter modification,

.the Hat upper heel surface is interrupted by the core ele- V52, 60 and 54 from the forward edge 56 thus to lock the heel 40 from being Idisplaced either angularly, centrally downward or to the rear. For preventing the centrally downward displacement of the heel 40, the edges 64 off the plate 42 are preferably slanted each to a side, whereby the plate 42 has the approximate shape Vof a truncated tetrahednal pyramid: The l-ocking pin 62V preferably has a downturned flange '66 lat its forward end whereby the pin maybe gripped by the fingers or other gripping tool for insertion or removal. 'Io prevent ready displacement, the pin body 62 may be given an undulating wavy shape whereby the displaced metal humps will tend resiliently to grip the relatively resilient upper and lower surfaces of the heel about slot 6,0 which may be of flexible rubber or leather, the pin 62 being vgripped in 4a manner to be resiliently held against ready displacement.

It will .be appreciated that any twist or torque upon theheel of this modifi-cation is offset and resisted b-oth by the plate 42 secured within the slot 46 of the horizontal plate 44, and bythe plate 50 lying flush against the face 58 of the front end of the heel 56.

v For mounting as before, the heel is slided upon the plate 44 from the rear forward with the edge of the plate 44 lying within the groove 14. In removal the pin 66 is rst withdrawn, the Wedge pl-ate 42 drops or is pried out, and then the heel 40 is sl-ided back off of the plate 44.

A further modified forim is shown in FIGS. 9, and l1.

In t-heseconstructions a plate 70 terminates at its for/ward end in a vertical plate 72 which has a backturned flange 74; that is, bent to the rear as in FIG. 9. The plate 70 is supported upon a spacing plate 24 lying upon the heel the dotted slot 46 of FIG. 9 may be cut to correspond in size and shape .to that shown in FIG. 4. In this manner additional resistance against twist of the heel will be provided as shown in FIG. 4,-the structure of FIG. 4 then being further reenforced by theV rearsturned flange 74, but held more tightly by a screw fastener. O'f course the plate 70 cfould have aslotV 26 cut therein as in FIG. l and an additional raised core element 16 as shown in FIG. 3 may be added for additional securement ofthe heel against twist or torque in use.

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 show a modification in which the heel is mounted to the shoe by a single impulse or snap fastening. Forthis purpose the heel body 200 has an upper liange 1\2 and a groove 14 adapted to slidingly engage the area of the extended sole 22 with its flanges extending outward from the separator Y24 to lie Within a groove 14 below `a flange 1,2 olf the heel 76 in a .manner similar to descriptions above. The forward end of the heel 76 has an indented facing80 cut inward t-o receive and retain the outer falce of the plate '7.2 llush with the forward end 718, and is slotted further inward at 82 to receive the backward bent flange 74 of the plate 72.- Y

A vertical slot 84 is cut upward tir-om the bottom 86 of the heel suicient to intercept a horizontalbore 88 extendinga sufficient ldistance inward from the forward end 78 of the heel to intercept the Vvertical slot 84. That slot 84 maybe sized large enough to receive a nutr90 inserted upward from the bottom vof the heelgthat is,

upwardvfrom the position shown in FIG. 9 to the position shown in FIG. 10Q A long screw fastener 92 is inserted through the plate 72 into the bore 88 extending tothe` rear to intercept the nut 84 and isthreaded therein to tightly secure theiheel 76 against therrear ofV plate 72, with the rear tur-ned flange,V 74 lying within Vthe groove 82 and imparting effective bracing. rIIhe he-ad olf the screw 92 is preferably countersunk into thefacevof the plate 72 so that it will lie flush therewith, whereby t-he surface of the'forward end of the heel '78 and the plate 7-2 lie within the cutaway "portion 80, and the countersunk head ofthe screw 92 lying smoothly in the same forward-plate comprising 'the forward en'd of the heel. v

This construction may as desired be further modified to include a largerY wedge plate 42, as in FIG. 4,'in? Asubstitution for the nut 90 and the plate 42 then may be bored and threaded in substitution for the slot 54 therein, to receive .a bolt 88, as a combined screw fastener and wedge .plate secured thereby. Where, of course, the larger wedge plate 42 is used, the slot 84 would be made larger to correspond to the approidmate size of that of 48 and twist-resisting core 16 as in FIG. 3.

edge of la. plate 202 (FIG. 7) secured to the underside of a sole 22 through a spacer 24, 'as described above. A slot 26, cut in fromthe rear of the plate 202 may engage a The upper surface of the heel 204 lie dat against the surface 206 ofthe plate 202. Between thesurffalce off the plate 206 and the upper sunface of the heel 204 a U-s'haped groove 208 is cut, sized to receive a U-shape spring clasp 210 with its open U portion directed forward as shown. Al forward portion of the heel surface 204 is cut away at 212 and 'cut laterally to a slanted `wall 214 at each lateral side to rounded sides 2118 against which the' laterally distending spring arms of the clasp 210 will bear and be resiliently separated in thefonwardsliding mounting of the heel 200 tothe plate 202. vFor that purpose, upon assembly, the resilient arms' of the clasp 210 set in the groove 208 of the heel. The heel Vis brought to the rear of the plate 202 Vwith the edges sliding in groove 14, and by sliding movevment the boss 16 engages theends 220 of the arms of the clasp forcing them laterally apart against walls 214 and sliding upon the sides 218. Thercore element 1-6 slidingly enters the slfot 26. The ends ofspring anms 210 are each bent at right angles toward each other to provideclasp retaining bars 220, each extending only a short clasping distance. toward eachother, and ,leaving asubstantial opening 222 therebetween. That opening 222 corresponds approximately to the linear distance between the small tapered ends of arcuate sides 218 of the boss 216. After the heel has been moved forward upon the/plate 202 aV sul'l'cient distance, the clasp .ends or retaining bars 220 of the spring .arms2l10 engage the sides'218 of the boss 216-andare resiliently .forced apart laterallytoward the slanted lateral walls 214, the'bars 220 bearing against the arcuate snrface218 for this purpose,-until ythe heel has been pressed forward to'fully engage the plate 202.Y

In that position the spring arms 210 ,have now fully encompassed and elaspingly engage the boss216 within the grip of the bar ends 2120, which yafter passingthevdependf ing sides 218 Voct the boss, resiliently return laterally to engage the front end of the boss V216V and thus lock the boss andi plate tothe heel as it is mounted upon the plate with the bar ends220asecuring theV boss 216 between them in their `spring grip. Theheel maybe thus easily and quickly mounted upon vthe plate by a quick sliding m-ovementthere, a quick forced d-istension of the spring arms of the clasp, and a quick locking return to the clasped position of the arms gripping the boss. In this manner the heel is resiliently fastened to the plate in a snap-actingv motion of the Vclasp arms about the boss 216V. For removal of the yheel of this modication it is necessary onlyY to 'mechanicallyV press apart the bar ends y220 of the spring arms until` they bear laterally against the yslantcd'walls 214, a dist-'ance su'cient toy release the boss 216 from their Y grasp, and then slide the heel Vto the rear until it slides entirely olf theretaining edges of the plate 202. To minimize lateral twisting movement, the boss 216 is gencasarse erally sized long enough, with respect to the flat cut out housing portion 212, so that its rear surface 224 bears yas a bracing stop against the rear wall 226. The heel is* thus firmly secured against twisting movement by the gripping and support of the plated edges lying within the groove 14, by the core element 16 lying within the slot 1,4, and also by the rear wall of the boss 224 bearing against the out away wall 226.

In an alternate construction, as shown in FIGS. 12, 13 and 14, the heel 96 may be secured to the plate 98 by a latching -rod 100. In this modification the plate 98 as shown in FIG. 12 has a deep groove or channel 102 pressed into it preferably from side to side, that is, athwart the heel usualy at about the center portion, but it could f be located somewhat forward or behind it, as desired.

The same construction may be used with the latching rod slideable longitudinally, along the axes of the shoe, if desired. The heel body 96 has a corresponding slot 10.4` cutfrom side to side, or from either side at least a substantial distance inward from a side to receive a latching bar 100 mounted in the heel slot 104 extending as well i to and engaging slot 102 of the plate 98. The heel is mounted on this plate 98 by sliding it inward from the rear for mounting, as in other modifications described above. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 9, the plate 98 may also have a downturned forward plate 172 for its front end which may carry a rear-turned flange 174. The flange 172 lies within and mates into the correspondingly cut away fiange housing portion 180 and flange receiving slot 182 in the forward end of the heel 178. For mounting of the heel 96 of FIG. 12, it is first slided from the rear forward upon the latching plate 98 until the forward plate 172 vlies and is housed fiush within the cut away portion 180, and the rear-turned flange 174 lies within the groove 182.

I n that assembled position the grooves 102 and 104 will be .aligned for receiving the lateral sliding latching rod 100 which is slid into locking position from either side of the heel. The center part of the groove 102 may be bored and threaded at 106 to receive a threaded stud 108 which is fastened into the bore 106 after rst passing through the latching bar 100. In this manner the stud 1,08 prevents the latching bar 100 from being displaced, and the bar 100, in turn, braces the heel against any twist or torque. The heel otherwise remains securely fastened to the plate 98, as described for other modifications above, that is, by the edge of the plate 98 being retained within the groove 14 beneath the flange 12.

While, as shown, the heel of this modification is fastened by a single latching bar 100, that bar may be substituted by two bars, one inserted from each side, and each having a fastening screw 108 for securing the same; or alternatively, a single shorter section of a bar may be inserted from either side for a Short distance to extend slightly beyond the heel center, to have a substantially equal latching effect to prevent rotary torque. Of course the screw fastener 108 can be substituted by other fastening means; for instance, a fastener 38 as shown in FIG. 1 may be inserted upward from the bottom of the heel 96 in the dotted line position thereof, the Shank of the screw being passed through the latch 100 and being threaded into the bore 106 for screw threaded securement of the assembly. As in FIG. 1, the stud 38 may be countersunk below the surface of the heel. Moreover, such screw fastener modification as described below in FIG. 17 will be equally suitable for fastening the heel to the plate 98.

In a further modification, as shown in FIGS. l5 and 16, a heel is formed of two halves 226 and 228 with each portion cut longitudinally of the heel (or laterally when preferred), and each half is provided with deep zig-zag lobes 230 in one side, which fit and intermesh with similar deep complementary zig-zag lobes 232 cut in the opposite half as shown, the assembled pair of halves forming a continuous heel with the lobes intermeshed. For mounting to the shoe, a plate 234 is provided which is fastened by screws, nails or rivets 235 upon a separator 24, which in turn rests against an extended sole portion 22 in the area ofthe heel. As thus mounted, the plate 234 has edges 236 spaced away from the heel continuously around its periphery. Consequently, the heel halves for fitting upon such plate have a flange portion 12 in each half extending entirely around the periphery of the heel, the flange portion 12 being separated from the upper surface of the heel by a groove 14, not shown in this figure, but similar to the groove 14 shown in several of the figures described above. For mounting of the heel the two halves, as in FIG. 15, are slided laterally together from the opposite sides of the plate where the heel has been cut into longitudinal halves, upon the plate 34 until both halves grip the edge of the plate through their flanges 12, the edges of the plate lying within the groove 14 as in assembled position of FIG. 6. Each of the lobes is sized so that a single longitudinal bore 238 is cut from the forward to the rear completely intercepting and penetrating each of the lobe portions of each heel half, the bore 238 being a continuous passage axially of the assembled heel through each of the meshing lobes as shown in the assembled portion of FIG. 16. Consequently, a single pin 240 is inserted from the forward edge of the heel to the rear for pinning and retaining both assembled heel halves together in locked position from the plate 234. For removal it is merely necessary to withdraw the pin 240 and slide both heel halves laterally apart on the plate 234.

In an obvious modification, the two heel halves may be cut laterally; that is, athwart the heel from side to side and mounted with a forward end and a rear -portion similarly pinned by a single pin inserted through the meshing lobes passed from either side of the heel. While as shown the meshing lobes are divided into two equal half portions, they may be unequal, and a larger portion corresponding to a forward end and a smaller portion corresponding to an after end, both meshed together in their lobed areas and lsimilarly secured to a heel plate by a pin. That unequal portion may be useful for a heel portion that receives an unusual amount of wear. It would thus be possible to replace only the rearmost portion alone since that would usually receive the greater amount of wear.

In a further modification shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the heel 10 of FIG. l may have a modified fastener to be more securely fixed to a plate. For this purpose the heel 10 is centrally bored with three bores, a central bore 34 as in FIG. 1 to receive the shank 32 of a screw fastener 38 which, as in FIG. l, threads into a nut 28 retained beneath the plate 20 within a slot 27. Two additional bores 242 are cut through the heel 10 on each side of the bore 34 to receive parallel bracing arms 244 secured to a horizontal yoke bar 246. The bottom surface of the heel 10 is further grooved, trenched or indented at 248 inward of the wearing surface to receive the horizontal yoke bar 246 with the vertical bracing arms 244 lying within the bores 242. The plate 20 is further bored at 250 to receive the extending upper ends of the arms 244, to allow the further bracing of the heel upon the plate 20 by the yoke arms 244 extending within the bores 250 after passing through the heel 10. The modification, accordingly, of FIGS. 17 and 18 allows similar quick fastening of the heel 10 as in the FIG. 1 by a single screw fastener 38 after sliding of the heel upon the plate 20, but imparts a greater bracing effect in that easily secured position by the presence of the yoke bar 246 and arms 244 which distribute the fastening tension imparted by the fastener 38 over a wider area of the heel surface through the yoke bar 246 and further resists any twisting tendency of the heel in use.

As thus described, several readily secured, removable heel elements are provided, each securing the heel against rotary movement. Other modifications of the constructions Shown will occur to those skilled in the art within the spirit of this invention and it is accordingly intended that the several descriptions be regarded as illustrative and not limiting except as deiined in the claims appended hereto.

I claim: V V

l1. A readily removable heel structure comprising a heel 'shalped retaining plate having plane sides rounded at the rear, spacing means for mounting saidk plate below the heel area of a shoe body, said retaining platevhaving side and rear edges extending outwardly` offrsaid spacing means for support ofy a heel thereon,l a slot formed ,a Isubstantial radial distance inward toward the centerfrom the rear edge of said plate,aheel' having ajflangejex-` tending inward around its upper edge and separated from the upper heel surface byv a groove cooperative with the spaced edges o'f said retaining plate for slidably mounting theheelupon said plate and a core element on said heel extending radially inward from said flange and positioned to lie in sli-ding it within the slot in said plate on sliding engagement of the heel thereon, and ready fasten-ing means on said heel' securing it to said plate against sliding disengagement o'f the heel and'plate.

2. A readily removable heel struct-ure comprising a heel shaped retaining plate having'plane sides `rounded at the rear, spacing [means for mounting said plate'below the heel area of a shoe body, said retaining plate having side andprear edges extending outwardly of said spacing means for support of a heel thereon,=a screw fastening element retained centrally between said plate and shOe'bOdy, said plate having a bore therein for fastener communication with said screw fastening element, a heel vhaving a flange disposedinward around the edgeV of its upper surface ,co-t operative with the spaced edge's of the retaining plate for sliding securement of said heel upon said plate andl adapted to be retained with the Viiangeof 'the heel between the plate and shoe body, a screw fastener, said 'heel having a'bore extending vertical-ly throughthe center thereof saidV plate with the flange ofthe heel slidingly and adapted to be retained between said plate and shoe body and withjthe forward edge, ofsaid heel bearing against the face of said downturned ange, a slot formed vertically through the center portion of said heel, a horizontal bore insaid heel alignedwith the longitudinal borein said down-turned flange and intercepting said vertical slot, a veritcal fastening element having a horizontal slot, and mounted in said vertical heel slot, said horizontal slot of said vertical fastening element being aligned with the horizontal bore of said heel, a horizontal fastening element, said horizontal fastening element mounted in the longitudinal bore of said heel, intercepting said slot in the downturned flangeland the horizontal slot of said ven-tical fastening element for securing said heel to said plate.

f5. 'Ilhe readily removable heel structure defined in claim 4 wherein the horizontal fastening element is a stud screw and .the vertical fasten-ing element mounted inthe verfor receiving said screwY fastener cooperative withk the] screw fastening ele-nient retained 'by Ysaid plate, ysaidlianger and screw fastener Vremovably securing said heel at its edges and centrally to said plate.V

3. The readily removable heel structure defined in claim 2 wherein theV vertically Ibored heel further has'addif" tional spaced vertical bores beside yoke bar having yoke arms, each additionally spaced vertical bore lreceiving the yoke arm-s of said yoke bar, said yoke bar having an intermediate bore fOrmedthere-- in aligned with said irstbore andreceivingt-he screw*` fastener, said plate having further bores therein correspondingly on either side of the fastener Vreceiving bore receiving the yoke arms of said yoke bar, said heel having an indentation in its Y yoke bar andV lying substantially iiush with the lower heelV surface, said vscrew fastener being tive with the screw fastener element Y plate inalignment with the 4borein the center of. said yoke bar, whereby the yoke bar and screw fastenercenagainst said plate.

trally secures and 'braces the center portion of said heel 4. A readily removable heel structure comprisinga*V heel shaped retaining plate having plane sides rounded.

at the rea-r, spacing means for mounting said plate spaced below the heel area of a shoe body with its edges ex-l posedand spaced below the shoejbody for-heel support thereon, the forward turned flange, said downturned flange having a longitu-Y dinal bore therein,

ward around the edgeof its upper, surface and spacedA therefrom cooperative with the spalced edges of the re# taining plate for sliding securement 0f said heel upon the center bore, a'

lower surfacerrerceiving saidj mounted cooperaretained by said portion of said plate having a downa heel having a iiange disposed inV tical slot i-s a screw threaded element cooperative with said stud. n

6. A readily removable heelstructure comprising a heel shaped retaining plate having piane sides rounded at the rear, spacing means for mounting` said plate Vspaced between the heel arear'of a shoe body for heel support thereon, said retaining plate having a dependent boss at its Vforward edge, said depending boss having tapered rounded edges, a heel having a flangel disposed inward around the edge Of its uplper surface cooperative with the spaced edges of the retaining plate for sliding securenient of said`heel upon-said plate, withgthe flange of the heel beingv adapted to be retained between the plate and shoe' body," a U-shaped spring clamp having springs with -inturned end"s, a horizontally disposed U-shaped groove formed in the upper surface ofthe heel receivingan'd retaining said U-shaped spring clamp for slid- .ing distension of the spring arms about theroun'd tapered edges of the depending bos-s tor-nvm clasping securement about thevouter end of said depending boss, an angular cut depression on the top .portionof said Vheel for slidingly receiving and housing said depending boss,

and allowing lateral displacementof said spring arms in sliding locking engagement about said'depending boss.-

Y 7.' The heel structure ldefined in claim 6 wherein the plate has a slot formed inwardv a substantial radial distancev toward the center from the rear edges thereof, a core element formed integral with the -upper heel, a

flange extending radially inward from a 'position corresponding to said slot, said core beingreceived within' said slot in sliding tit to engage .the heel upon the re-` taining plate.

References-Cited by the Examiner l UNITED STATES PATENTS JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner. FRANK J. COHEN, Examiner. 

1. A READILY REMOVABLE HEEL STRUCTURE COMPRISING A HEEL SHAPED RETAINING PLATE HAVING PLANE SIDES ROUNDED AT THE REAR, SPACING MEANS AND MOUNTING SAID PLATE BELOW THE HEEL AREA OF A SHOE BODY, SAID RETAINING PLATE HAVING SIDE AND REAR EDGES EXTENDING OUTWARDLY OF SAID SPACING MEANS FOR SUPPORT OF A HEEL THEREON, A SLOT FORMED A SUBSTANTIAL RADIAL DISTANCE INWARD TOWARD THE CENTER FROM THE REAR EDGE OF SAID PLATE, A HEEL HAVING A FLANGE EXTENDING INWARD AROUND ITS UPPER EDGE AND SEPARATED FROM THE UPPER HEEL SURFACE BY A GROOVE COOPERATIVE WITH THE SPACED EDGES OF SAID RETAINING PLATE FOR SLIDABLY MOUNTING THE HEEL UPON SAID PLATE AND A CORES ELEMENT ON SAID HEEL EXTENDING RADIALY INWARD FROM SAID FLANGE AND POSITIONED TO LIE IN SLIDING FIT WITHIN THE SLOT IN SAID PLATE ON SLIDING ENGAGEMENT OF THE HEEL THEREON, AND READY FASTENING MEANS ON SAID HEEL SECURING IT TO SAID PLATE AGAINST SLIDING DISENGAGEMENT OF THE HEEL AND PLATE. 